IN BRIEF

CYCLING

Schleck loses Tour lead,

fumes at rival Contador

The gloves have come off at the Tour de France.

Andy Schleck was fighting mad after his chain fell off during a tough climb Monday. He lost the overall lead when defending champion Alberto Contador unabashedly sped ahead to take the yellow jersey in Babneres-de-Luchon, France.

“He can be nervous for the next days ... this gives me anger,” said Schleck, vowing revenge. “I’m not the one who will get chased any more, I’m the one who chases. That’s a big difference.”

The episode highlighted the often-unclear etiquette of cycling’s greatest race, where the wearer of the yellow jersey is conferred almost queen bee-like respect — and taking advantage of mishaps out of his control is frowned upon.

The breach came on a day when France’s Thomas Voeckler surged out of a long breakaway to win the 15th stage, finishing a 116.5-mile trek that included the merciless Port de Bales climb in 4 hours, 44 minutes, 51 seconds.

Contador, who gained time while Schleck was putting his chain back on during a high-speed downhill to the finish, crossed 2:50 back in seventh, while Schleck was 12th — 3:29 behind Voeckler. Contador now leads Schleck by eight seconds in the overall standings.

Also: Lance Armstrong’s attorney sent a letter to the federal prosecutor investigating the seven-time Tour de France winner and his associates for possible fraud and doping violations, complaining about leaks to the media.

The letter from Tim Herman to Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Miller in Los Angeles said it is “especially unfair to subject Mr. Armstrong to this continuing media blitz when he is in the middle of his final Tour de France.”

The letter said Armstrong’s attorneys had already talked to Miller about the leaks less than two weeks ago.

HOCKEY

Devils retain Kovalchuk

with whopping contract

Ilya Kovalchuk, the biggest prize on the NHL free-agent market, is staying with the New Jersey Devils, agreeing to a staggering 17-year, $102 million deal with the team.

Kovalchuk’s agent and the team announced that the high-scoring left wing agreed to stay with New Jersey, ending weeks of speculation about where the league’s leading goal scorer since 2001 would skate next season. The 27-year-old Kovalchuk was traded to the Devils by Atlanta in February after rejecting a 12-year, $101 million extension offered by the Thrashers.

Also: Simon Gagne waived his no-trade clause to leave the only NHL team he’s ever played for and join the Tampa Bay Lightning.

New Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman added a big offensive chip to his club by trading for the longtime Philadelphia Flyers forward. Tampa Bay sent defenseman Matt Walker and a fourth-round pick in next year’s draft to Philadelphia to get Gagne, who spent 10 seasons with the Flyers.

MISCELLANEOUS

Foot injury might force

Serena out of U.S. Open

Top-ranked Serena Williams is questionable for the U.S. Open because of her recent foot injury, according to the WTA Tour.

Williams cut her right foot on broken glass at a restaurant shortly after winning Wimbledon. The WTA said last week she needed surgery and would miss three tournaments leading up to the Open.

Also: Attendance and wagering during Hollywood Park’s spring-summer meet dropped by more than 10 percent each, extending a trend at many U.S. tracks as the economy continues to sputter.

Attendance during the 57-day meet that ended Sunday averaged 12,676, down 10.4 percent from the average of 14,149 during a 55-day meet last year. The average wagering handle of $4,794,545 declined 10.6 percent from last year’s average of $5,365,293.